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Energy · Action #8
Switch to a 100% renewable energy tariff
Your electricity supplier can be changed in minutes. For most households in deregulated US energy markets, switching to a tariff backed by 100% renewable energy eliminates the electricity component of your home energy footprint on paper — and supports renewable generation on the grid.
~2.0 tons CO₂e/yr
~3.85 tons CO₂e/yr
Low — one account change
$0–$10/month typical
Direct answer
Switching to a 100% renewable energy tariff reduces the estimated electricity component of your home energy footprint to near zero, based on a grid emission factor of 0.350 kg CO₂e/kWh (eGRID2023 national average, EPA EF Hub 2025). For a flat or condo with gas heating, this saves approximately 2.0 tons CO₂e per year; for a detached house, approximately 3.85 tons CO₂e per year. The saving applies to electricity consumption only — gas, oil, or other heating fuels are unaffected by a tariff switch.
How a renewable tariff reduces your estimated footprint
When you switch to a renewable energy tariff, your supplier commits to purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) — also called Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin — equivalent to the volume of electricity you consume. Each REC represents 1 MWh of electricity generated from a renewable source (wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal) and fed into the grid. Your supplier retires these certificates to substantiate the claim that your consumption is matched by renewable generation.
In practice, the electrons entering your home are drawn from whatever generation is running on the grid at that moment — which may include coal or gas. A renewable tariff does not physically deliver clean energy to your socket. What it does is create financial demand for renewable generation, incentivising investment in new capacity, and allows your electricity consumption to be attributed to renewable sources for emissions accounting purposes. The EPA and GHG Protocol both support market-based accounting methods that reduce the reported emission factor for renewable tariff customers to zero or near-zero.
The Decarb calculator applies the national average grid factor of 0.350 kg CO₂e/kWh (eGRID2023, EPA EF Hub 2025) to electricity consumption by default. Switching to a verified renewable tariff reduces this factor to 0 for accounting purposes, eliminating the electricity component of the calculated footprint.
Key figure
0.350 kg CO₂e/kWh
US national average grid emission factor. Source: eGRID2023, EPA EF Hub 2025, full CO₂e (CO₂ + CH₄ + N₂O), AR5 GWP basis.
Estimated saving by housing type
Electricity savings vary by housing type because consumption baselines differ. The figures below apply the national average grid factor of 0.350 kg CO₂e/kWh to EIA RECS 2020 kWh baselines for each housing type, assuming gas or oil heating (the most common configuration for non-electric homes). Households with electric resistance heating or heat pumps will have higher electricity baselines and therefore larger potential savings.
| Housing type | Baseline kWh/yr (gas/oil heat) |
Est. electricity emissions | Saving on renewable tariff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared flat | 5,300 | 1.86 t CO₂e/yr | ~1.86 t CO₂e/yr |
| Flat / condo | 5,700 | 2.0 t CO₂e/yr | ~2.0 t CO₂e/yr |
| Semi-detached | 7,400 | 2.59 t CO₂e/yr | ~2.59 t CO₂e/yr |
| Detached house | 11,000 | 3.85 t CO₂e/yr | ~3.85 t CO₂e/yr |
Methodology note
kWh baselines from EIA RECS 2020. Grid emission factor: 0.350 kg CO₂e/kWh (eGRID2023, full CO₂e, AR5 GWP, EPA EF Hub 2025). A renewable tariff reduces the grid factor to 0 for market-based accounting purposes. This saving applies to electricity consumption only — gas or oil heating emissions remain unchanged and require separate action (insulation, heat pump). See decarb.co/methodology for full source documentation.
What “100% renewable” actually means — and what it does not
Not all renewable tariffs are equivalent. The label “100% renewable” can refer to several different arrangements, ranging from meaningfully additional to largely symbolic. Understanding the distinction helps you choose a tariff that has genuine impact.
Bundled RECs (strongest): Your supplier buys RECs from renewable generators at the time of your consumption — ideally matched hourly to your usage. The supplier has a direct contractual relationship with a specific wind farm, solar installation, or hydro plant. This is the most credible form of renewable tariff and is associated with genuine additionality — new renewable capacity supported by your bill.
Unbundled RECs (weaker): Your supplier purchases RECs separately from electricity delivery — often in bulk from established hydro plants, sometimes years old, sometimes from a different region of the country. Your consumption is technically matched to renewable generation, but the financial signal to generators is weaker and additionality is lower. This is common among cheaper “renewable” offerings from legacy utility suppliers.
Green Power Partnership or REV Match programmes: The EPA’s Green Power Partnership verifies supplier claims. Suppliers listed on the EPA Green Power Locator use RECs from qualifying renewable sources and report annually. This is a reliable minimum standard for evaluating “100% renewable” claims in the US.
How to switch to a renewable energy tariff
Check whether your state has a deregulated energy market
Around 30 US states have deregulated electricity markets where residential customers can choose their electricity supplier independently of the distribution utility. These include Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In regulated states, your choice is limited to your local utility’s available tariff options. Check the US Department of Energy’s Energy Saver tool or your state Public Utility Commission website to confirm whether you have supplier choice.
Use the EPA Green Power Locator or your state’s comparison tool
The EPA Green Power Locator (epa.gov/greenpower) lists certified green power suppliers by state, with details on the renewable source mix and whether RECs are bundled or unbundled. In deregulated states, your state PUC often runs a comparison website — such as PowerToChoose.org in Texas or EnergyShopper.com in New York — where you can filter for renewable tariffs and compare prices.
In regulated states, ask your utility about green tariff or REC options
Most regulated utilities now offer at least one green pricing programme — either a direct renewable tariff, a voluntary REC purchase add-on, or participation in a community solar programme. These are typically available through your utility’s website under “green energy” or “renewable options.” Community solar programmes are particularly valuable in regulated states as they allow participation in solar generation without rooftop installation.
Complete the switch online — no engineer visit required
In deregulated markets, switching suppliers requires only an account registration with the new supplier — your existing meter, wiring, and distribution infrastructure remain unchanged. The switch typically takes effect within one to two billing cycles. Your bill will arrive from the new supplier for the energy component, while the distribution utility continues to handle delivery and any power cuts. No physical work is required at your property.
Reduce consumption alongside the tariff switch for maximum impact
A renewable tariff eliminates the emission factor applied to your kWh consumption — but consuming less electricity still matters. Lower consumption reduces the volume of RECs that need to be purchased to match your usage, strengthening the additionality argument and reducing your bill. Combining a renewable tariff with LED lighting, efficient appliances, and good thermostat habits produces the strongest combined outcome.
Common blockers and how to think about them
I rent and my landlord controls the energy contract. In most US states, residential tenants have the right to choose their own electricity supplier independently of their landlord, even in multi-unit buildings, as long as they pay their own electricity bill. If your electricity is included in your rent and billed by your landlord, you can request that your landlord switch to a renewable tariff — citing reduced bill volatility and property sustainability credentials as practical reasons alongside the emissions argument.
Renewable tariffs cost more. The premium varies significantly by state and supplier. In competitive deregulated markets like Texas and Pennsylvania, renewable tariffs are often price-competitive with standard tariffs or carry a premium of under $5–10 per month for a typical household. In some periods, renewable tariffs have been cheaper than standard ones due to the economics of wind generation. The cost difference has narrowed substantially over the last decade and should be checked against current rates rather than assumed.
It’s just accounting — my electricity still comes from the same grid. This is accurate as a physical description. The grid runs on a mix of sources, and the electrons in your socket are not labelled by generation type. However, the market-based accounting framework — RECs retired against your consumption — is the same mechanism used by corporate sustainability reporting, government procurement, and the GHG Protocol’s Scope 2 methodology. The practical effect is to create financial demand for renewable generation that influences investment decisions at scale. The accounting is not a fiction; it is an intentional instrument for directing capital.
Case study: a ten-minute switch
Illustrative example
Priya rents a two-bedroom apartment in Chicago, Illinois — a deregulated state. Her current electricity supplier is ComEd, which provides distribution. She pays her own electricity bill and uses approximately 6,200 kWh per year. Her estimated electricity footprint at the national average grid factor is 6,200 × 0.350 ÷ 1,000 = 2.17 tons CO₂e per year.
She uses the Illinois retail electricity comparison site to find a renewable supplier — Constellation Energy’s Wind Energy product — which is EPA Green Power Partner certified and backed by wind RECs from Midwest installations. The price premium is $6 per month over her current rate. She completes registration online in 10 minutes. Her distribution remains with ComEd; only the energy supply account changes.
Her estimated electricity emissions on her Decarb report drop to 0 tons CO₂e for that category — a reduction of 2.17 tons CO₂e per year for $72 annually.
Related actions
Energy
Install solar panels
Generate your own renewable electricity — for homeowners, the most permanent solution to electricity emissions.
Energy
Install a heat pump
Replace gas or oil heating with an electric heat pump — combined with a renewable tariff, this can eliminate most home energy emissions.
Energy
Insulate your home
Reduce the energy your home needs to heat and cool — lowering consumption before applying a renewable tariff or heat pump.
Frequently asked questions
How much does switching to a renewable energy tariff reduce your carbon footprint?
Switching to a 100% renewable tariff reduces the estimated electricity component of your home energy footprint to near zero. For a flat or condo with gas heating, this saves approximately 2.0 tons CO₂e per year; for a detached house, approximately 3.85 tons CO₂e per year, based on eGRID2023 grid emission factors and EIA RECS 2020 consumption baselines. The saving applies to electricity only — gas or oil heating is unaffected.
Does switching to a renewable tariff actually make a difference to the grid?
Yes, with caveats. Renewable tariffs create financial demand for renewable generation through the REC market, which contributes to investment in new capacity over time. The impact of any single household is small, but the aggregated demand from millions of renewable tariff customers is a real market signal that influences utility procurement and new project financing. The strongest impact comes from tariffs with bundled RECs from recently constructed or contracted renewable generation — these represent the clearest evidence of additionality.
What is a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) and how does it work?
A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) represents 1 MWh of electricity generated from a qualifying renewable source and fed into the grid. When a renewable energy supplier retires a REC on your behalf, it means that 1 MWh of renewable generation has been attributed to your consumption and cannot be claimed by anyone else. The EPA’s Green Power Partnership sets minimum standards for qualifying renewable sources and verifies supplier claims. RECs are the standard mechanism for market-based renewable electricity accounting in the US.
Can I switch to a renewable tariff if I rent?
In most US deregulated states, yes — residential tenants who pay their own electricity bill have the right to choose their supplier independently. If your electricity is included in rent, you would need to request your landlord make the switch. In regulated states, you can participate in your utility’s green pricing programme or community solar scheme without any landlord involvement, as these are add-ons to your existing utility account.
Does switching to a renewable tariff affect my gas heating emissions?
No. A renewable electricity tariff applies only to electricity consumption. If your home uses gas for heating, cooking, or hot water, those emissions are separate and unaffected by your electricity supplier choice. Eliminating gas heating emissions requires either switching to an electric heat pump (which can then run on renewable electricity) or insulating to reduce overall heat demand.
Your personal reduction plan
See how much your electricity contributes to your footprint
Calculate your estimated carbon footprint in 3 minutes. Your personalised report ranks all your highest-impact reduction actions — energy, transport, flights, and more — by tons CO₂e saved.
Sources
- EPA, eGRID2023 Summary Tables and GHG Emission Factors Hub, 2025. National average grid emission factor: 0.350 kg CO₂e/kWh, full CO₂e (CO₂ + CH₄ + N₂O), AR5 GWP basis.
- EIA, Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) 2020, Table CE4.1. Electricity consumption baselines by housing type and heating fuel.
- EPA, Green Power Partnership, 2025. REC qualification standards, Green Power Locator database. Available at epa.gov/greenpower.
- GHG Protocol, Scope 2 Guidance, 2015. Market-based method for Scope 2 electricity accounting; REC retirement as basis for zero emission factor attribution.
- US DOE, Energy Saver — Electricity Deregulation, 2024. State-by-state deregulation status and consumer choice guidance.
- Decarb, Internal Methodology Specification v1.2, 2026. Energy category electricity calculation, eGRID2023 grid factor, kWh baseline table.